H.264 profile for new 5.5G Ipod?

[TheResonator]

The new 80 GB video iPod was announced yesterday. Apple claims it can now decode H.264 streams coded to a true standard-definition level: 640x480x30 fps at up to 1.5 mbps. (up from the old 320x240x30 @ 768 kbps limit of the 5th-generation iPod).

Does anybody have details on the decode capabilities of thew new iPod, such as whether the new iPod can decode B-frames and the rest of tools in Main and High Profile?

[ChronoCross]

same as before. if I read it correctly it cannot decode H264 at 640x480.

it decodes mpeg-4 SP at 640x480x30fps.

Sadly apple has fucked up again

[Student Driver]

From the Apple site (http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html):

Video capacity based on H.264 1.5-Mbps video at 640-by-480 resolution combined with 128-Kbps audio

Others are reporting that music videos are nearly double in size now with the new resolution. I just came in to check if Nero was updating their profiles, and if there was an update on the pre-defined MeGUI as well. :)

[foxyshadis]

Well, I guess first we'll need specifics on its resolution & level limits, and exact capabilities supported; for that someone has to actually get one and report back or be willing to help testing. Then a 6G profile can be published.

[Taxidermista]

About this, something weird happened to my iPod 5G yesterday. I upgraded the fw to 1.2 and gave it a 640x480@2200kbps MPEG4 SP video. Against the Apple public specs (res. limit 480x480 = 230400 pixels) the video run smoothly on the device.

[Sirber]

what's the goal of 640x480 when the LCD is 320x240? TVOut? It's RCA plug is 240 lines. :(

[Taxidermista]

what's the goal of 640x480 when the LCD is 320x240? TVOut? It's RCA plug is 240 lines. :(
Well, 640x480 looks better through the TV OUT than 320x240, don't ask me why. :)

[Student Driver]

The point is more for people who like keeping a larger resolution copy of DVDs/videos on their systems. When I watch the video on my iPod, the resolution doesn't matter. But when I watch it on a laptop or PC, it does. One copy at 640x480 is much better than one "original" larger video, and another just for the iPod.

[migrena]

new video specs from apple site (for any ipod with 1.2 firmware):
H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Low-Complexity Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 768 Kbps, 320 by 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
but what is this "Baseline Low-Complexity Profile"?
according to this (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=678891) 1.5Mbit @640x480 @30fps is avilable for baseline profile at level 3 or higher, right?

i encoded test clip with xvid (no b-frames, no qpel and no gmc) at 640x480 with bitrate 2.5Mbit and it worked fine (although it didnt reach that bitrate) but any clip encoded with x264 is not working (i encoded with old ipod profile in megui at 12.5fps to mach avc specs for that resolution and with default baseline profile)
[edit]
weirdest thing is that this video (http://www.eugbanana.com/EverythingApple/Movies/Cornell-640-7.1.3.mov) works fine :confused: it was exported from quicktime 7.1.3
what setings in x264 would be equivalent to this video?

[foxyshadis]

Where does it say 12.5 fps? I thought Ipods (and formerly PSPs) only worked at 30.

[migrena]

my bad, i was so sleepy i mixed up 2.2 and 3 columns, but i encoded previously at different framerates (25 and 30 at 320x240) and it worked fine
i did another test clip now at 640x480 at 30 fps and it didnt work

[Taxidermista]

Where does it say 12.5 fps? I thought Ipods (and formerly PSPs) only worked at 30.

No, you don't need to stick to 30 fps. 25, 23.97, 15... work as well.

BTW, I did a test with mpeg4 SP and new firmware 1.2 and a 720x400@2.4Mbps@23.97fps clip plays perfect on my 5G.

-

[bond]

but what is this "Baseline Low-Complexity Profile"?low complexity most likely refers to the aac profile

[Taxidermista]

low complexity most likely refers to the aac profile

No, it refers to the video, 2 valid profiles:

H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Low-Complexity Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

H.264 video, up to 768 Kbps, 320 by 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

[Student Driver]

So, is that to say:


H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Low-Complexity Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

I support the full Baseline profile, and include support for Low Complexity AAC audio.

H.264 video, up to 768 Kbps, 320 by 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

I only support Baseline up to level 1.3 with these settings (the original iPod with Video settings). I wonder what we're getting with jump from Baseline 1.3 to the full Baseline profile. I think I have a chart or something around here somewhere...

[migrena]

i played with that movie i posted before a bit and found out this:
-it works perfectly on ipod
-after changing container to mp4 it doesnt work anymore (i used yamb 1.6.0)
any clue why it wont play?

[Sharktooth]

Level 1.3 is limited to 768kbps.
1.5mbps is out of Level 1.3 specs.

[MuTeK]

Ipod 5.0G support AVC Baseline, level 1.3 - 320x240
Ipod 5.5G support AVC Baseline, level 3.0 - 640x480

[Sharktooth]

thanks.

EDIT: I added a new iPod 5.5G profile to the MeGUI custom video profiles for x264.

[migrena]

thanks, i will try them out

[edit] it still doesnt work on 5g ipod with 1.2 software, so why that stupid mov file works?

[Adub]

I have chaotically updated the megui wiki to show these new settings. Feel free to add your own information.

[NWDaniels91]

I used to use MeGUI to encode videos for my iPod, until the videos suddenly stopped working. (I reported this problem on the Doom9 forums here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112375), but I never figured out how to fix it.) So I was very happy when I saw the new iPod profile. I thought I would finally be able to use MeGUI to encode for my iPod. But, this new profile does not work for me. What's really strange, though, is that I just re-tested the old, regular iPod profile, that had stopped working for me, and now it works. I hope the new profile starts working soon, but at least I'll be able to use the old 320x240 profile until then.

Also, once the new profile does work, there'll be no need for the old one. The "old" 5th-generation iPods can still play the 640x480 videos. The only reason they couldn't until now was because Apple placed restrictions on the Broadcom chipset in the firmware, but with the new version 1.2 firmware out, the Broadcom chipset can finally work at its true potential.

[Manao]

After checking a 640x480 file that ought to work for 5.5g ipod, it seems there's no p8x8,i4x4 and p4x4, and no deblocking. So I guess low complexity simply means no deblocking + no partitions.

[migrena]

After checking a 640x480 file that ought to work for 5.5g ipod, it seems there's no p8x8,i4x4 and p4x4, and no deblocking. So I guess low complexity simply means no deblocking + no partitions.
i will try encoding with those settings disabled in old ipod profile
what tool i can use to get info about used settings in avc? (sth like gspot would be nice)

I used to use MeGUI to encode videos for my iPod, until the videos suddenly stopped working.(...)
try deleting all profiles and importing them again, megui has strange tendency to mix some profile settings when you are switching between them in codec config menu


i found a person who bought quicktime pro and asked if i could use it to import a video in ipod profile, only thing i was able to output from xvid encoded file was blank m4v clip, mediainfo recognized it as h.264 640x480 clip and it worked on my ipod...
maybe apple did something that allows only playback of clips encoded with apple codecs?
i will do more testing later

[Sirber]

Ipod 5.0G support AVC Baseline, level 1.3 - 320x240
Ipod 5.5G support AVC Baseline, level 3.0 - 640x4805.5g is the new 80GB or old 5.0G with 1.2 firmware?

[edit]

does both supports CABAC?

[NWDaniels91]

5.5g is the new 80GB or old 5.0G with 1.2 firmware?
Both the "old" 5th-gen and the "2nd-gen" 5th-gen should have the same playback abilities. (The 1.2 version firmware "unlocks' the restrictions of the Broadcom chipset so it can play the new 640x480 videos.) It would be very cumbersome to have to sell multiple versions of the same video for different iPods.

[Nic]

For those interested you may want to follow the current thread on the ffmpeg mailing list:
http://lists.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/ffmpeg-devel/2006-September/045391.html

That lists some interesting detective work...

-Nic

[migrena]

thank you Nic, this explains alot
it looks like i will have to dump itunes and try different ipod managers (unfortunatelly i'm win2k user)

[Sirber]

@NWDaniels91

Thanks! gonna add that to RealAnime (640x)

[Nic]

I'll try to add something to MP4Box if I get a chance to add support for this uuid thang, (not unlike the support MP4Box has for the PSP).

Of course, if someone else wants to do it and save me the bother that'd be great :D

-Nic

[NWDaniels91]

@NWDaniels91

Thanks! gonna add that to RealAnime (640x)

I would recommend that you not add it yet. It seems that only Apple-created 640x480 videos will sync in iTunes right now. It has something to do with setting the SAR and a special uuid atom. (Read the mailing list thread that Nic linked to.) Until there is a workaround, iTunes will not be able to sync custom-created 640x480 videos to the iPod.

[Gannjunior]

i'm going to install the new nero release 7.5.1.1 to get a look to the new recode, but it asks me to installa directX 9.0c. If I choose to not install them, the installation is aborted.

I don't want to overwrite the dx that now i've installed, that are, off course, the 9.0c (to be sure i've also checked by dxdiag).

do you have any idea about the nero installer behaviour?

tnks
ciao

[Sirber]

@Gannjunior

Is here the best place to ask that?

[Gannjunior]

i want to try the new nero avc ipod profile and since it has been released from a few days, I've seen this 3d speaking about the new ipod profile.
and so i've thought that other people could have had my same problem. i'm not seeing my question as a sin or OT...

[Sirber]

well, your question is about installing Nero and that you have DirectX issues. I don't see where it's about iPod and AVC profile :sly:. Would be like asking how to install windows coz you wanna try that AVC thing ;)

[Sharktooth]

i'm going to install the new nero release 7.5.1.1 to get a look to the new recode, but it asks me to installa directX 9.0c. If I choose to not install them, the installation is aborted.

I don't want to overwrite the dx that now i've installed, that are, off course, the 9.0c (to be sure i've also checked by dxdiag).

do you have any idea about the nero installer behaviour?

tnks
ciao
You can safely tell it to install the DX9.0c. The DX installer is smart enough to detect your pre-existent version and skip the installation if files are the same or newer than the ones bundled with nero.

[Nic]

Ahem, Keeping this thread on topic. Adding SAR and that uuid to a file for the windows iTunes isn't enough (as stated in the ffmpeg thread). I'll try and track down what is needed, if anyone else has any resources, links, info, etc that could help, let me know.

-Nic

[migrena]

i can provide files exported in quicktime to ipod format (640x480 resolution avc of course) that can be transferred with itunes to ipod under windows
also is someone on ipodwizard forums find out anything i will post this
will this help?

[kothrush]

so how is the quality compared to xvid for baseline profile ? I am not able to find much info about it in other places on Doom forum. Has anyone compared H.264 baseline 3 profile with xvid at 1.5mbps bitrate ?

Main/high profile for H.264 is be very efficient and could give "near DVD" quality rip at bitrate of 900-1000 kbps or below. But, since iPod can only process baseline H.264 upto 1.5mbps, can it be close to DVD quality ? Anyone with screenshots ?

[Adub]

okay, so with the new firmware update, the "old" normal 5th gen ipods support the new, 640x480 resolution?

In that case then, the only truly new, 5.5gen ipod is the 80gig version?

If those questions are answered as I think they will be answered then the MeGUI wiki will need to be changed accordingly. I may be the one to do this, but I would rather know for sure.

[NWDaniels91]

okay, so with the new firmware update, the "old" normal 5th gen ipods support the new, 640x480 resolution?

In that case then, the only truly new, 5.5gen ipod is the 80gig version?

If those questions are answered as I think they will be answered then the MeGUI wiki will need to be changed accordingly. I may be the one to do this, but I would rather know for sure.
According to MaxOSXHints (http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060914025312636):

With iTunes 7, Apple updated the iPod firmware to 1.2 for 5th generation iPods. Besides being able to use the games, the integrated Broadcom chipset for video is silently upgraded. The chipset always allowed resolutions up to 640x480 (H.264 and others), but Apple restricted that in the first versions. Now the power is fully usable (it's needed for Apple's new "near DVD-quality" movies from the Music Store.)

If you use the iPod as a playback VCR for your TV, you should re-encode all the movies you might have. Using QuickTime Player Pro 7.1.3, movies are exported for iPod now with H.264 in 640x480. The quality is stunning if you watch it full-size out of iTunes or on your TV (iPod connected with AV-cable). Other software soon might use the new features as well (iSquint, Podner, etc.).

So if you want to call the 2nd-generation 5th-generation iPod (with brighter screen and integrated search function) a 5.5-generation iPod, that's fine. But as far as video encoding goes, there is no need for different profiles for the "old" and "new" 5th-generation iPods. We just need to replace the current iPod profile with a new one that can make 640x480 vidoes that iTunes will accept.

[Taxidermista]

okay, so with the new firmware update, the "old" normal 5th gen ipods support the new, 640x480 resolution?

Sure, both h.264 and mpeg4 sp. My iPod 5G fw 1.2 plays both flawlessly. And a mpeg4 sp clip at 720x400 plays fine too.

[Student Driver]

I haven't been able to get a 640x480 XviD on mine yet. I have tried encoding it using the settings from the Project357 Wiki (http://www.project357.com/MeGUIwiki/index.php?title=Guides:Ipod_Conversion_Guide) but using 640x480 as the resolution and it still won't import. Are you using MeGUI, and if so would you share your settings so I may try again?

[Adub]

you have updated your firmware, haven't you?

Also, make sure you update your profiles up to Sharktooth's latest as well. He updated them for this exact purpose.

Second, I didn't know that the new generation had an integrated search function and brighter screen. Do you think version 6 will incorporate OLEDs? Probably not.

[Taxidermista]

I haven't been able to get a 640x480 XviD on mine yet. I have tried encoding it using the settings from the Project357 Wiki (http://www.project357.com/MeGUIwiki/index.php?title=Guides:Ipod_Conversion_Guide) but using 640x480 as the resolution and it still won't import. Are you using MeGUI, and if so would you share your settings so I may try again?

I did my mpeg4 test clips with Videora Ipod Converter, editing its default profiles. Videora h.264 profiles don't work with new resolutions.

[Student Driver]

That's cool. I used to use Videora as well. Nice program.

[Adub]

Videora h.264 profiles don't work with new resolutions.

This is interesting. I think that there are some new options that are/not supported. I do believe that I read somewhere on the forum that it may have to do with deblocking or block size. All it takes is just a little experimentation. If you guys could use Sharktooth's 5.5gen profile, and if it doesn't work, go through and find the options that are causing the problem, that would be great.

[BeyondTheEyes]

FYI, see below statistics obtained from a Quicktime Pro 7.1.3 encoded MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 bitstream (iPod setting) :
- Profile : 66
- Level : 30
- Nb. of Ref. pictures : 1
- Weighted P preds : OFF
- Weighted B preds : DEFAULT
- Chroma Q offset : 0
- Entropy coding mode : CAVLC
- Deblocking filter : OFF
- only Intra 16x16, Inter 16x16 and Skip allowed (no Bipred, Direct/NoMC, Intra 4x4, Inter 16x8, Inter 8x16)

[Manao]

That's what I said earlier. Yet, it doesn't tell us if the ipod supports more than that. It only tells what their encoder produces.

If the ipod were to support only that ( in 640x480 ), it would make AVC hardly more efficient than mpeg4p2 SP.

[BeyondTheEyes]

well, I guess that for answering that question one has to find the exact Broadcom processor BCM2722 technical specifications and http://www.broadcom.com/collateral/pb/2722-PB00-R.pdf does not reveal a lot...

[migrena]

but using h264 you could produce comparable quality with smaller filesizes, right? if yes its worth checking, especially if someone has 30GB model
personally i find encodes done with xvid more blurry and greyish than encodes done with x264

FYI, see below statistics obtained from a Quicktime Pro 7.1.3 encoded MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 bitstream (iPod setting) :
- Profile : 66
- Level : 30
- Nb. of Ref. pictures : 1
- Weighted P preds : OFF
- Weighted B preds : DEFAULT
- Chroma Q offset : 0
- Entropy coding mode : CAVLC
- Deblocking filter : OFF
- only Intra 16x16, Inter 16x16 and Skip allowed (no Bipred, Direct/NoMC, Intra 4x4, Inter 16x8, Inter 8x16)
why they turned deblocking off? it works for old 320x240 profile...

@Student Driver mpeg4 asp in ipod is very limited - no b-frames, no qpel, no gmc (and probably only h263 quantization matrice), check if setting you selected in megui are meeting those conditions

[Manao]

but using h264 you could produce comparable quality with smaller filesizes, right?Wrong. If they prevent the use of all the tools that makes h264 better than mpeg4, then you end up with a codec only as good as a mpeg4 codec.personally i find encodes done with xvid more blurry and greyish than encodes done with x264You don't prevent x264 from using the 'good' tools ( namely : cabac, deblocking, subpartition, bframes, mreferences... ), that's why you get better results.why they turned deblocking off? it works for old 320x240 profile...Because deblocking slows down the decoding a lot. It's not a question of what features are implemented in the decoder : deblocking is implemented, I bet subpartitions too, and perhaps even cabac. But these features slows the decoding a lot, and the processing power on an ipod is limited. For example, on a computer, deblocking takes ~30% of the decoding time. Cabac can take up to 30% more than cavlc. That's huge.

[BeyondTheEyes]

That's what I said earlier. Yet, it doesn't tell us if the ipod supports more than that. It only tells what their encoder produces.

If the ipod were to support only that ( in 640x480 ), it would make AVC hardly more efficient than mpeg4p2 SP.

-> rate-distortion optimization ?
<- for VGA 30Hz @ 1.5 Mbps, RD-opt may not be that important...:\

[BeyondTheEyes]

Because deblocking slows down the decoding a lot. It's not a question of what features are implemented in the decoder : deblocking is implemented, I bet subpartitions too, and perhaps even cabac. But these features slows the decoding a lot, and the processing power on an ipod is limited. For example, on a computer, deblocking takes ~30% of the decoding time. Cabac can take up to 30% more than cavlc. That's huge.

exactly : S. Jobs does want you to buy 2-hours-length (and more) movies through iTunes 7, movies that you can playback on your brand new iPod 5.5G without having to reload the batteries every 30 minutes... ;-)

[Manao]

RD optimizations are a decision coding tool. Any codec can use them. XviD does ( VHQ is exactly that ), x264 does ( subme 6, 7 ). Trellis ( present in both codecs ) is an avatar of RD opts. DivX 6 uses RD opts too, so does ffmpeg, nero...

RD opts have no influence whatsoever on the decoding complexity.

[BeyondTheEyes]

RD opts have no influence whatsoever on the decoding complexity. agreed, I was thinking aloud about the coding efficiency (independently from the codec used) at 1.5 Mbps for VGA resolution

[BeyondTheEyes]

RD opts have no influence whatsoever on the decoding complexity. More exactly I would counterbalance this statement by highlighting the fact that some RD-opt settings (depending on lambda setting, bit-rate) may tend to favour some MB modes to the detriment of others and results in e.g. many inter MBs that would then require inverse motion compensation at decoder side, which may increase decoding complexity as well, in comparison with intra prediction ?

[Sharktooth]

@BeyondTheEyes: There's a reason if an EDIT button exists...

[Manao]

Any decision algorithm changes the MB modes decision and so is liable ( to a marginal extent ) to make the file easier/harder to decode. RD, in that regards, doesn't differ from other decision schemes.

[_leech_]

Apparently the new version of ffmpegx supports the "new" format:

# Added "iPod H.264 w640" preset to support new high-resolution 640x480 h.264 in updated 5G iPods.

http://www.ffmpegx.com/news.html

[migrena]

Wrong. If they prevent the use of all the tools that makes h264 better than mpeg4, then you end up with a codec only as good as a mpeg4 codec.You don't prevent x264 from using the 'good' tools ( namely : cabac, deblocking, subpartition, bframes, mreferences... ), that's why you get better results.

i was comparing encodes done with 5.5 ipod profile in megui and xvid in virtualdub

Because deblocking slows down the decoding a lot. It's not a question of what features are implemented in the decoder : deblocking is implemented, I bet subpartitions too, and perhaps even cabac. But these features slows the decoding a lot, and the processing power on an ipod is limited. For example, on a computer, deblocking takes ~30% of the decoding time. Cabac can take up to 30% more than cavlc. That's huge.
deblocking works fine with 640x480 clips, but old batteries may have problems with this
external power source can be a resonable solution

[Nic]

Finally found some time. Made a modified MP4Box that mux's 640x H264 files so that Windows iTunes will accept them. :)

Got to do a lot more testing, but will release it tomorrow. Hopefully someone will find it useful.

-Nic

[Student Driver]

Fantastic! So are we able to use Baseline level 3.0 with this, or are there several restrictions we need to keep in mind?

[Sirber]

@Nic

can you post a binary please? :D

[Nic]

@Student Driver: Don't know the limitations yet. My tests mainly are:
x264 --no-cabac --level 30 --progress -B 500 --sar 1:1 -o video.mp4 video.avs
neroAacEnc.exe -br 80000 -if wav.wav -of aac.mp4
NicMP4Box -add aac.mp4 -add video.mp4 Muxed.mp4

Need to do more testing :) (edit: doesn't seem to like b-frames :( )

@Sirber: Patience ;) You'll get the source and binary soon. Currently it's implemented in the worse way possible, but I'm not sure I care, so I may not clean the code up :D

-Nic

[Nic]

http://nic.dnsalias.com/NicMP4Box.zip

There ya go. Hopefully, the ReadMe.txt is comprehensive enough to get you going.

Should allow the muxing of H264 640 width (and less) MP4 files that are compatible with the new iTunes 7.0 and iPod firmware v1.2.

It's worked so far, but I should really have done more testing. Let me know of any issues.

-Nic

[simonhowson]

Thanks so much for the time and effort.

[NWDaniels91]

Thanks, Nic!

I used the "PD-iPod 5.5G" MeGUI profile, and then muxed with YAMB (with the new tweaked MP4Box). It works in iTunes and on the iPod.

I'm guessing it will be a while before MP4Box is officially changed to support the strange iPod needs, and even longer before an option is added to MeGUI to support it. But I don't really care, because I can do it manually, thanks to Nic.


EDIT: I just noticed that the "PD-iPod 5.5G" MeGUI profile has been changed. The only difference I noticed is that P8x8 and B8x8 are turned off. But the video I just encoded, that works fine on the iPod, used the older version of the profile, in which both options were turned on. Could someone explain why they have been turned off?

[Nic]

@NWDaniels91: Glad it worked :) I'm hoping people will use it to give me a full list of what works and what doesn't.

I haven't found an exhaustive list yet of which options work and which ones fail. Otherwise I'll try and make a list myself of what options we can use to and what options will cause iTunes to refuse copying the file.

-Nic

[Student Driver]

OK, I was going to use MeGUI with Sharktooth's "PD-iPod 5.5G" profile as NWDaniels91 did. However, the command line doesn't include "--sar 1:1" and the level is "3" rather than "30". If it worked for NWDaniels91, do we still need these options?

I have to run this via an RDP session and I won't be able to sync until I get home to find out the answer, but I have several videos I would like to get started if it will work. :)

[Nic]

@Student Driver: I just tried with:
x264.exe --no-cabac -o video.mp4 avs.avs

And then after the mux the file worked fine in iTunes and the iPod :) So that's why I need a list of what options work and which ones don't. I'll need to test more.

-Nic

EDIT: The above is incorrect! My automated testing had a bug, that muxed the wrong file!

[Student Driver]

Spiffy. I should know more tonight as I have a conversion going right now.

[NWDaniels91]

Before the firmware upgrade, the iPod could play AVC files with up to 76800 pixels. Apple said the limit was 320x240, but that wasn't entirely true. The iPod could play other resolutions, like 368x208, because it was 76544 pixels, just under the 76800 limit.

After the firmware upgrade, I read somewhere that AVC files now have a hard cap on the width of 640, instead of just the pixel count limit. To test this, I encoded the same 16x9 file with all the same parameters except the resolution. I did one at 640x352 and one at 736x416 (306176 pixels, which is just under the 307200 pixels that 640x480 has). iTunes could play both files just fine, but refused to transfer the 736x416 file to the iPod, because "it cannot be played."

I might try some more tests to see exactly what encoding options work and don't work, but this confirms that there is a hard limit on the video width of 640.

[Nic]

Ok, done more tests:

You definitely need CABAC turned off (--no-cabac)
You don't appear to need a SAR (one might be recommended however, i.e. --sar 1:1)
You do need to set a level (--level 30, although setting --level 3 will also work BTW)
B-Frames are not supported
"-A all" is supported and works fine
-8 does not work
--mixed-refs does work
You can have more than one reference frame (I've tried -r 3 with no problems)
--subme 7 works fine


Most other options require CABAC or b-frames, so they're not relevant.

I hope this helps people when choosing their settings.

Cheers,
-Nic

[Taxidermista]

Before the firmware upgrade, the iPod could play AVC files with up to 76800 pixels. Apple said the limit was 320x240, but that wasn't entirely true. The iPod could play other resolutions, like 368x208, because it was 76544 pixels, just under the 76800 limit.

After the firmware upgrade, I read somewhere that AVC files now have a hard cap on the width of 640, instead of just the pixel count limit. To test this, I encoded the same 16x9 file with all the same parameters except the resolution. I did one at 640x352 and one at 736x416 (306176 pixels, which is just under the 307200 pixels that 640x480 has). iTunes could play both files just fine, but refused to transfer the 736x416 file to the iPod, because "it cannot be played."

I might try some more tests to see exactly what encoding options work and don't work, but this confirms that there is a hard limit on the video width of 640.

I don't know. Have you tried copying the video directly (http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=15015) to your iPod?

[NWDaniels91]

I don't know. Have you tried copying the video directly (http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=15015) to your iPod?

Even if that could get a 736x416 file to play, and there's no evidence that it can, the average user would not want to go through all that trouble for a slightly higher resolution, especially on the 2.5-inch iPod screen.

[dohcmark8]

Just to confirm some more. Using the new MP4Box from Nic and the 5.5G iPod profile in MeGUI, I have just successfully encoded and played a 640x480 music video on the iPod.

Thanks. :)

[Student Driver]

Fantastic! Works great for me! Here's the command line from MeGUI:

C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats "M:\Ipod Videos\megui\NWD-III-smaller.stats" --level 3 --filter -2,-2 --no-cabac --subme 1 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me dia --merange 12 --progress --no-psnr --output "M:\Ipod Videos\megui\NWD-III-smaller.avs" --sar 1:1

[Adub]

Good work there Nic! Mind if I include a link in MeGUI wiki?

[NWDaniels91]

Here's the command line that works for me:
C:\Program Files\MeGUI\x264.exe --pass 2 --bitrate 700 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --ref 2 --mixed-refs --filter -1,-1 --no-cabac --subme 7 --analyse p8x8,b8x8 --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --merange 12 --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --output "D:\Video.mp4" "D:\Video.avs"

[Student Driver]

I ran this one, and the iPod pauses during playback (works fine on PC):

C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe --pass 2 --bitrate 1500 --stats "M:\Ipod Videos\megui\INERTIA-short.stats" --level 3 --filter -1,-1 --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --merange 12 --progress --no-psnr --output "M:\Ipod Videos\megui\INERTIA-short.mp4" "M:\Ipod Videos\megui\INERTIA-short.avs"

I presume it's the "--analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4" part that made it worse, but I'm going to try again without the i4x4 and p4x4 parts.

[Nic]

@Merlin7777: Do whatever you wish with it :)

@Student Driver & NWDaniels91: Thanks for testing, my tests were mainly to test if the file would be transferred to the iPod rather than if it would play well on the iPod, so I'm glad your testing that side of things.

-Nic

[Student Driver]

Cool enough. I ran the same vid clip again and it still pauses with the 8x8 settings as well. I am researching what those actually do (I don't know yet :)) and I wonder if dropping the bitrate down would offset this.

[Nic]

You are really maxing out the bitrate there. I'd drop that down a bit first to help decide which parameters work and which ones don't.

-Nic

[migrena]

iirc -8 is high profile option, i dont think ipod will be able to decode this
[edit] oh, you were talking about -A, i used almost exact settings (bitrate 1100) and they worked

[dohcmark8]

Has anyone else noticed some pretty bad color banding on 640x480 videos? They arent there when I encode in 320x240...

I think it has something to do with how the ipod scales.

[Student Driver]

Well, the videos I have tested look fantastic on my iPod, and great on my PC. I did see some banding in a few sky scenes with earlier attempts, but not so much in these later ones.

The last command I have listed works great at 1Mbps, and I haven't tried going back up in rate. With these options and 1Mbps, I have been getting around 425MB/hr during encoding of 4:3 material.

[migrena]

that banding might be caused by ipod lcd screen, it has only 65k colors

[NWDaniels91]

that banding might be caused by ipod lcd screen, it has only 65k colors

Yep. I've noticed banding while watching videos on the iPod. The same video, on a TV or computer screen, does not show the banding.

[dohcmark8]

I shoulda been more clear, on the iPod 640x480 videos show banding that their 320x250 counterparts do not...

[NWDaniels91]

I shoulda been more clear, on the iPod 640x480 videos show banding that their 320x250 counterparts do not...

I've noticed banding on the iPod for a long time. I see no difference now that the videos are higher resolution.

[Student Driver]

Ditto. Are you trying a common source video that you already had (such as a DVD that you already ripped)?

[dohcmark8]

Ditto. Are you trying a common source video that you already had (such as a DVD that you already ripped)?

Nope its the same exact video, using the same source (DVD music video) and avisynth script and x264 settings, only change is the resolution.

[Paul Curtis]

Since my beloved Rio Karma finally seems to be giving up the ghost, last night I broke down and picked up one of the new 80GB video iPods. Since then, I've made the interesting discovery that the iPod will accept and play MPEG4 files encoded at 50fps (on the built-in screen, anyway--I haven't tried it with an external monitor). Using AviSynth and ProCoder, I've now successfully made several MPEG4 conversions from interlaced PAL video sources, which retain the full temporal resolution of the original footage. My question is, can this also be accomplished with H.264? It certainly can't be done using the iTunes "Convert Selection for iPod" function--I've tried it, and it just knocks everything down to 25fps, eliminating the fluid "video look" that I'm able to get with regular MPEG4. Does the current version of QuickTime Pro permit H.264 encoding at 50p (or 60p, for that matter)? And if so, will the iPod decode and display it at the full frame rate, like it does with 2.5mbps MPEG4?

BTW, I'm a little perplexed by the issue mentioned above re: color banding when 640x480 footage is played on the internal screen. Since (as far as I know) all of the iPod-compatible video formats employ 4:2:0 chroma sampling, wouldn't 640x480 footage offer at least a theoretical improvement, in that the chroma resolution (320x240) would match the screen precisely? (Admittedly, the extra luma resolution would be entirely wasted, so this might not be a very efficient use of bandwidth.)

Thanks very much!
--Paul Curtis

[koosoul]

can someone(NWDaniels91, Student Driver :P) post their final setting that works well on iPod? and someone please tell me how to use commandline...and do you still need to create a aviscript when you have a commandline?

[Adub]

yes you do, as the commandline incorporates the avisynth script.

[koosoul]

hmm i noticed that i can't encode audio, cause meGui won't update neroaccencoder

[Kurtnoise]

@Nic : do you still have the patch for MP4Box ? I would like to merge your code with the disabling of NALU size available in the last cvs entry in my build...Thanks.

[check]

@koosoul - the nero files cannot be hosted on the megui update server. You must download them from nero's site: http://ww2.nero.com/nerodigital/enu/index.html

[celtic_druid]

So using -ipod or m4v/m4a as an extension with mp4box isn't enough?

[Kurtnoise]

Honestly, I really don't know...Does anybody have already made some tests with this -ipod switch ? If yes, is it ok ?

[_leech_]

can someone(NWDaniels91, Student Driver :P) post their final setting that works well on iPod?

Yea, a final, confirmed working command line would be nice :)

[check]

as far as I can tell (not owning an ipod and all :P), you just need to add the -ipod switch to a normal commandline. I wouldn't suppose you had done any testing yourselves, have you?

[celtic_druid]

You don't need to add -ipod if your output is *.m4v.

I do have an iPod, just that 1) it lives in my car and 2) it is only an iPod photo.

[Nic]

@kurtnoise:
http://nic.dnsalias.com
Download the Zip for NicMP4Box and look in the readme for a link to the source.

-Nic

[HowlerX]

Honestly, I really don't know...Does anybody have already made some tests with this -ipod switch ? If yes, is it ok ?

I'd be willing to test this new MP4Box. I still have some 640x352 mp4 movies on my hard drive that I can mux and test within iTunes and my 30gig video ipod. I've already tested them with Nic's MP4Box and they played fine.

Kurtnoise, I downloaded the latest MP4Box in the link in your sig and it doesn't seem to support this "-ipod" switch.

-H

[Kurtnoise]

Yes, my build doesn't include this new stuff...Use the new one from Celtic_Druid (http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/gpac/dev/) or wait a couple of hours. :)

@Nic: thanks...;)

[HowlerX]

Hi. Just thought you guys might want to know. Tried the latest MP4Box from Celtic_Druid's site and Kurtnoise's latest (MP4Box-0.4.3_20061018.zip) and both do not work on my iPod. I used the -ipod switch for both builds and while the file plays with Quicktime and iTunes, the file won't download to the iPod.

Muxing the video with Nic's MP4Box does work though. The file is a 512x288 AVC1;x264 video/128kbps AAC .mp4 and it plays and looks good on the video iPod when muxed with NicMP4Box.

-H

[Synergy37]

This is really starting to piss me off. I did everything the posts said and used the NIC mp4box for MeGUI, but everytime I go to update my iPod it says it won't update because it's a bad bit rate. Can someone please post a file that is there profile so I can just add it to my program and use it? Thanks.

[memberako]

i just wanna know the length of videos you guys are testing. i tried converting using nic's command line and muxing it with nicmp4box. a 40 second clip was recognized by itunes and transferred to my ipod without a problem but a 1 hour movie can't be recognized by itunes.

what is the length of the videos you guys are testing? i think that the length has something to do with it.

[Synergy37]

Yea the Cornell movie that someone posted worked fine and was like a minute, then my 5 minute clip didn't work.

[Mug Funky]

"C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe" --pass 1 --stats "%~dpn1_stats.log" --bitrate %rate% --level 30 --thread-input
--keyint 50 --ref 1 --no-cabac --qpmin=4 --bframes 0 --direct auto --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --me umh
--progress --output "%~dpn1_x264.264" "%~dpn1.formp4.avs"
"C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe" --pass 2 --stats "%~dpn1_stats.log" --bitrate %rate% --level 30 --thread-input
--keyint 50 --ref 1 --no-cabac --qpmin=4 --bframes 0 --direct auto --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --me umh
--progress --output "%~dpn1_x264.264" "%~dpn1.formp4.avs"
"C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\avs2wav.exe" "%~dpn1.formp4.avs" - | "C:\Program Files\x264\neroAacEnc_sse2.exe"
-br %arate%000 -lc -if - -of "%~dpn1_audio.m4a"
nicMP4Box.exe -fps 25 -par 01=1:1 -add "%~dpn1_x264.264" -add "%~dpn1_audio.m4a" "%~dpn1.mp4"


worked for me.
bitrate must be less than 768 kbps i believe.

however, i only tested a 2.5 min clip. who knows what a longer one will be like (i'll be testing that pretty soon).

obviously get rid of the linebreaks...

i know in the past i've had trouble with quicktime recognising stuff over a certain length/filesize

[Synergy37]

How would i use those settings that you used?

[Adub]

directly paste them into the commandline portion of megui, with the correct mp4box selected. or you can decode the commandline and enter in the options your self. Or hell, use a command line. That seems to work quite nicely.

[Sharktooth]

@Synergy37: I suspect you may be using the iPod 5.5G profile for a non 5.5G ipod...

[memberako]

@nic: what was the length of the movies that you tested. i can't seem to make an 40 min episode work on my ipod. but when i tried a 40 sec clip, it worked.

[Nic]

@memberako: I did full length films. (Star Wars triliogy, etc).

May be a problem with your settings, bitrate, etc.

-Nic

[Synergy37]

@Sharktooth

I have a 5G iPod updated to a 1.2 firmware. The Cornell video someone else encoded worked fine for me, but anything I try fails.

[Adub]

you are using the correct bitrate, yes? Check your audio bitrate as well. The easiest way to be sure is to compare your settings with those on the MeGUI ipod wiki. The link is in my sig.

[temporance]

So does the iPod support deblocking at 640x480? Or is it only CABAC that is off limits?

[NWDaniels91]

So does the iPod support deblocking at 640x480? Or is it only CABAC that is off limits?

Deblocking works fine at 640x480. CABAC is not supported.

[Adub]

well according to Sharktooth's new profile, ipod 5.5 gen, it doesn't support deblocking. But for the old 5th gen, his profile says it does support deblocking.

Sharktooth, do you want to elaborate a little here? There is a little confusion.

@Temporance,
Good question.

Never mind, NW daniels cleared this up. Although, it also means that the 5.5 profile can be updated. Or maybe that is what Sharktooth can do when there will be two profiles released for 5.5 gen. One for battery and one for quality.

[memberako]

@memberako: I did full length films. (Star Wars triliogy, etc).

May be a problem with your settings, bitrate, etc.

-Nic

i followed every command written in your nicmp4box readme file. i just don't know what i did wrong. here are the commands i used:

x264 --no-cabac --level 30 --progress -B 500 --sar 1:1 -o video.mp4 video.avs
neroAacEnc.exe -br 80000 -if audio.wav -of audio.mp4
NicMP4Box -add audio.mp4 -add video.mp4 Muxed.mp4

[simonhowson]

i followed every command written in your nicmp4box readme file. i just don't know what i did wrong. here are the commands i used:

x264 --no-cabac --level 30 --progress -B 500 --sar 1:1 -o video.mp4 video.avs
neroAacEnc.exe -br 80000 -if audio.wav -of audio.mp4
NicMP4Box -add audio.mp4 -add video.mp4 Muxed.mp4

I am no expert on command lines, but you may try adding "--vbv-maxrate 1500" so that the bitrate doesn't exceed 1500 Kbps.

The command line I use is:

C:\Program Files\megui\tools\x264\x264.exe --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --merange 12 --threads 2 --thread-input --progress --no-psnr

Change "--threads 2" to "--threads 1" if you don't have a dual core machine.

[memberako]

do i really need to do a 2 pass? is there a big difference with 1 pass?

is just me or is it really impossible to convert using 23.98 fps? i tried 25 fps and it worked.

[Sharktooth]

--threads should be ALWAYS 1 when encoding for iPods or other devices, since most likely those devices dont support slices.

[bond]

--threads should be ALWAYS 1 when encoding for iPods or other devices, since most likely those devices dont support slices.hm, quicktime's normal encodes use 5 slices. maybe it does the same for ipod encodes?

[Sharktooth]

dunno, but once you get it working then you can try experimenting with slices and other options...

[simonhowson]

dunno, but once you get it working then you can try experimenting with slices and other options...

I've had no problems using threads 2, and deblocking on with my 80 GB iPod video.

[HowlerX]

Deblocking works fine at 640x480. CABAC is not supported.

A couple of things thing I've noticed when encoding to 640x480 using h.264 codec. You might want to leave deblocking at default setting (0,0) or turning off deblocking altogether. Seems the iPod video chip is being pushed to its limits when decoding 640x480 pixels and the movie will skip and drop frames all over the place. Deblocking appears to be the most CPU intensive task when decoding and turning it off solved the skipping problems.

This really applies to 640x480 content. I've encoded to 640x272, 640x352 with deblocking at (-1,-1) and have had no problems. Which makes sense.

Just a few things I've noticed. Hope it helps.

[Hyper Shinchan]

hm, quicktime's normal encodes use 5 slices. maybe it does the same for ipod encodes?

5? It seems 2 slices to me (and I thought that this could be one reason of the slowness of QuickTime 7 on my PIII).

[Student Driver]

So, any word from the Nero folks on getting Recode updated with the new iPod profiles?

[ssj2_goha]

Does anyone know how to add chapters to the iPod video files? i have tried using the -chap command in nicmp4box but iTunes and the iPod don't reconize it.

[Pookie]

http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-115864.html

[erspicu]

this is my way for your ref.



start /belownormal /b /w "" "tool\x264_new.exe" --no-cabac --level 30 --progress --me umh -m 7 -A all --crf 23 --sar 1:1 -o "temp\temp_video.264" "temp\temp_avs_AvsNumberLoad.avs"
start /belownormal /b /w "" "tool\extractwave.exe" "temp\temp_avs_AvsNumberLoad.avs" "temp\out.wav"
start /belownormal /b /w "" "tool\ffmpeg.exe" -y -i "temp\out.wav" -bitexact -vn -acodec aac -ac 2 -ar 44100 -ab 64 "temp\temp_audio.mp4"
"tool\NicMP4Box.exe" -fps 24 -add "temp\temp_video.264" -add "temp\temp_audio.mp4" "DoneFile\MainFileLoad.mp4"

[Jastr]

If i have a file playing fine when transfering it directly to the ipod not using itunes but itunes refuses it could i use nicmp4box to do something to the file so that it could be playable?

[NWDaniels91]

If i have a file playing fine when transfering it directly to the ipod not using itunes but itunes refuses it could i use nicmp4box to do something to the file so that it could be playable?

Yes, I've done exactly that with files encoded with Nero Recode. I used NicMP4Box with YAMB (Yet Another MP4Box UI) to extract both the audio and video streams from the MP4 file, then re-mux them together. It plays flawlessly on the iPod.

If you don't have it already, click here for the preview of YAMB 2.0 (http://kurtnoise.free.fr/index.php?dir=Yamb/&file=Yamb-2.0-Preview.zip) or here for the stable YAMB 1.6 (http://yamb.unite-video.com/Yamb-1.6.zip). (Don't forget to replace the MP4Box included with YAMB with NicMP4Box.)

[migrena]

you dont need yamb and remuxing, just use:

NicMP4Box -add NotWorking.mp4 Working.mp4

(its in readme)

[shanman99]

I have been using Sharktooth's 5.5 profile and NicMP4Box without problem, but all of a sudden have started getting this warning:

"Your AviSynth clip is is the wrong colorspace, 1610612740.
The colorspace should by YV12. Do you want me to add ConvertToYV12() to the end of your script?"

This is one some files that I had previously worked with without problems. If I do add the line the script, the resulting file won't trasnfer through iTunes.

Any suggestions?

[migrena]

i dont see why this shoud result in such effect but... what is your source?

[pinkie_1]

@ Shanman99 :

Confirmed.

To reproduce :
- use ffdshow (+ haali's renderer)
- set output colorspace to yuy2
- create an avs in megui, using directshowsource()

Workaround :
Pretty obvious. Adjust output colorspace in ffdshow accordingly...

[shanman99]

@pinkie_1

Thanks! I was pulling my hair out over this. Not sure how the colorspace settings got changed, but once I made the change with the ffdshow settings it now works again. I had not realized that there was a setting for it in ffdshow.

Thanks again.

[migrena]

maybe you are using cccp or your compilation of ffdshow have yv12 output disabled by default - this is for compatibility reasons, not all graphics cards supports correctly yv12

[shanman99]

hmm, I am still have problems making iTunes compatible video. I am using CCCP and changing the settings in ffdshow stops the colorspace error message, but I still haven't been able to get the compatible video. I had no problem in the past, but ever since the first time I got the error message, I have not been able to make compatible video. I am not sure what I changed to cause this chain of events, but I will keep trying to figure it out.

Thanks for the help, any further suggestions would be appreciated.

[shanman99]

I am still trying to get to the bottom of my problem. If the source is DVD, then I have no problem with the resulting file and it is accepted both into iTunes and if muxed with Nicmp4box transferable to the iPod. However, if the source is an xvid .avi that I had previously created with AutoGK, I run into problems. I have CCCP installed, but disabled for xvid and have xvid installed but enabled for only xvid (I have also tried it with the xvid decoder disabled and ffdshow enabled for xvid). If I don't touch any settings then I get the "Your AviSynth clip is is the wrong colorspace, 1610612740.The colorspace should by YV12. Do you want me to add ConvertToYV12() to the end of your script?" message.

If I don't accept this addition, I get the following error in the log:

avis [error]: unsupported input format (YUY2)
x264 [error]: could not open input file 'C:\videoclip.avs'

If I do add the ConvertToYV12() then the resulting file can't be added to iTunes.

I have tried not adding this, but enabling YV12 in the Planar YUV output of ffdshow and also forcing YV12 in the Output tab of xvid decoder. Neither will let me import the resulting file into itunes. I have muxed with Nicmp4box and still no luck.

The most frustrating thing is that it was working for me a week ago, even when I couldn't get the file onto the ipod, it still at least would import into itunes. I am not sure what has changed.

I am able to get the resulting files however on to the ipod with floola and they will play.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[migrena]

all widely used codecs operate in yv12 colorspace, so your script have to output yv12 or you will get message of unsupported colorspace

i have come into this issue when i was using alparysoft lossles codec as input in megui, itunes would reject encoded files for no particular reason, i have not found solution other than using ffyuv instead of alparysoft, im still curious why itunes react like that

[SimonSez07]

i am trying to get my avi movies converted to avc onto my new ipod 5.5g. i have read all the threads and i am using nics modified mp4box but itunes still wont put the files onto my ipod. the error is:

"movie" was not copied to the ipod because it cannot be played on this ipod

the script i am using to convert the files is:
@ECHO OFF
set sourcefile=c:\movie.avs
set audiofile=c:\audio.mp4
set videofile=c:\video.mp4
set destinfile=c:\movie.mp4
c:\bin\av\x264.exe --crf 22 --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,b8x8 --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 768 --me umh --merange 12 --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "%videofile%" "%sourcefile%"
c:\bin\av\bepipe.exe --script "import(^%sourcefile%^)" - | c:\bin\av\neroAacEnc.exe -q 0.2 -lc -if - -of "%audiofile%"
c:\bin\av\NicMP4Box.exe -add "%audiofile%" -add "%videofile%" "%destinfile%"

please let me know if i am doing something wrong.

EDIT: Apparantly, adding --level 30 --sar 1:1 seems to make itunes happy (thanks to erspicu's post (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=925986#post925986))

[migrena]

seriously you have read all related threads and didnt use "--level 30"? what about "--no-cabac", its not needed anymore?
you dont need that "--sar 1:1"

im using this slightly modified Sharktooth's profile:
1st pass:
--quiet --pass 1 --bitrate 1200 --stats video.stats --level 30 --no-cabac --subme 1 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me dia --merange 12 --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --output NUL input.avs

2nd pass:
--quiet --pass 2 --bitrate 1200 --stats video.stats --level 30 --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --merange 12 --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --mixed-refs --ref 2 --output output.mp4 input.avs

[B. W.]

I am still trying to get to the bottom of my problem.
I'm having the same problem.

[memberako]

@shanman99 and B. W.

try adding the command nicefps() at the end of the script when converting xvid or divx files. it worked for me. let me know if it helps.

you'll need this plugin:
http://fileho.com/download/492945569467/NiceFPS.dll.html

[migrena]

so the problem is in rounding fps to >30? if so using 25fps should also work

[Theliel]

interesting:

When I try convert video > 30FPS i have problems, perfect for FPS < 30

640*480, 1.5Mb with deblocking -1 -1 work perfectly!! no video/audio delay.

[B. W.]

@shanman99 and B. W.

try adding the command nicefps() at the end of the script when converting xvid or divx files. it worked for me. let me know if it helps.

you'll need this plugin:
http://fileho.com/download/492945569467/NiceFPS.dll.html
Could you upload that plugin again? It seems to have been removed.

[Pookie]

I have 23.976 working perfectly. Same with 29.97 .

http://www.bestsharing.com/files/50EBGQ223245/example.rar.html

"x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 1000 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --keyint 240 --min-keyint 24 --no-fast-pskip --nf --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --vbv-maxrate 10000 --qcomp 0 --scenecut 50 --me umh --progress --no-psnr --output "ipod_vid.mp4" "ipod.avs"

"x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --keyint 240 --min-keyint 24 --no-fast-pskip --nf --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --vbv-maxrate 10000 --qcomp 0 --scenecut 50 --me umh --progress --no-psnr --output "ipod_vid.mp4" "ipod.avs"

IPOD.AVS has ConverttoYV12() in it.

Audio
neroaacenc_sse2 -br 96000 -if IN.WAV -of ipod_aud.m4a

Mux
NicMP4Box -add ipod_aud.m4a -add ipod_vid.mp4 Output.mp4

[memberako]

Could you upload that plugin again? It seems to have been removed.

http://rapidshare.com/files/15947245/NiceFPS.zip

[B. W.]

http://rapidshare.com/files/15947245/NiceFPS.zip
That didn't do it for me. The files still won't transfer to my iPod.

[Pookie]

Post a short clip of one of your mp4 files that doesn't work

[foxyshadis]

@shanman99 and B. W.

try adding the command nicefps() at the end of the script when converting xvid or divx files. it worked for me. let me know if it helps.

you'll need this plugin:
http://fileho.com/download/492945569467/NiceFPS.dll.html
Avisynth 2.5.7 integrates the functionality of NiceFPS in all their framerate changes, now.

[migrena]

@Pookie
ipod wont choke with maxrate 10000?

[Pookie]

Hasn't for me. I've transcoded half a dozen movies with those settings. Give it a shot on a short clip. 640x352 works great for 16x9 AR

[Theliel]

Hasn't for me. I've transcoded half a dozen movies with those settings. Give it a shot on a short clip. 640x352 works great for 16x9 AR

even you can choose a higher options. My profile:

x264.exe --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats ".stats" --ref 5 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --filter -2,-1 --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "Video.mp4" "video.avs"

I'd use a --bitrate 1500 and perfect too, so you can choose all options you want for Level 3 and a max bitrate of 1500. No delay, work perfectly for 640x352 :). The only 'problems' are now a more slower encoder :)

[migrena]

i will try higher maxrate tomorrow, but i dont expect miracles, also i have 30GB model so 32MB ram might be not enough

@Theliel your profile wont work, because only 2 reference frames are supported, and disabling deblocking would be a good idea, it wont make any resonable difference on that small screen and on crt tv you dont need this, you will gain instead increased playback time

[Theliel]

Sorry, but for me work perfectly with five reference frames :). With deblocking IQ are improve a little, but yes, the playblack time are much less

[B. W.]

Post a short clip of one of your mp4 files that doesn't work
Now this is weird. I just cut a 11 second clip of video in VirtualDubMod, re-encoded the file with MeGUI using the same settings I had used before, and the file played on my iPod and iTunes without any problems.

The videos I'm trying to encode are variable framerate videos (VirtualDubMod gave me a warning), but the audio is in sync at 23.976.

So does anyone know why shorter clips work while longer one's don't? :scared:

[migrena]

@Theliel
what ipod model do you have?
i have uploaded my test files, can you test if my encode will transfer with your itunes?

source file ~700kB (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NDC7HVMS) (avi xvid 1.2.127 25fps 640x426)
output ~700kB (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5XW7GNGU)

i used your settings:
x264.exe --pass 1 --bitrate 1000 --stats "tst.stats" --ref 5 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --filter -2,-1 --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output NUL "tst.avs"
x264.exe --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats "tst.stats" --ref 5 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --filter -2,-1 --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "tst.mp4" "tst.avs"
NicMP4Box -add tst.mp4 vid.mp4
x264 v622, directshowsource from avisynth 2.5.7 and ffdshow (cccp build) as decoder
with "--ref 2" encoded file can be transfered to ipod

@B. W.
some part of your file might have fps >30, maybe even average fps is >30, i dont know how ipod is handling vfr files but probably not very well

[NWDaniels91]

@migrena: The vid.mp4 file you provided will not transfer to the iPod with iTunes.

[B. W.]

@B. W.
some part of your file might have fps >30, maybe even average fps is >30, i dont know how ipod is handling vfr files but probably not very well
I change the FPS under the AVI Options section in the AviSynth script creator to 23.976, and the clips I create average around 23fps (read by using MPC's Video Mixing Render 9 filter).

[Theliel]

its very rare. I go to sleep now, tomorrow I'll tell you and I'll post a cut scene and test your file.

[Pookie]

Guys - how about finding your favorite compatible settings with a CFR file first, then get fancy trying to convert a VFR file... You're introducing too many unknown variables.

[B. W.]

Guys - how about finding your favorite compatible settings with a CFR file first, then get fancy trying to convert a VFR file... You're introducing too many unknown variables.
That's the thing - I'm not doing anything else with the profile other than decreasing the bitrate to 500kbps. The outputted files are always 23.976 FPS.

I'll try to convert a CFR file and report back.

[memberako]

Avisynth 2.5.7 integrates the functionality of NiceFPS in all their framerate changes, now.
got a question. i tried making an avisynth script without loading nicefps plugin and putting nicefps() at the end. why wasn't i able to load it in itunes? do i have to add another command or something? thanks.

@B.W.
before, i almost gave up on encoding videos (xvid, divx) using megui. but when i found out about this nicefps thing, all videos which i encoded using megui worked.

[foxyshadis]

Open everything in virtualdub as a first step - it'll usually tell you the error. If you didn't load nicefps, it's probably complaining that the function doesn't exist. By integrated, I mean that all calls to assumefps, convertfps, and changefps internally integrate nicefps now, it doesn't exist as a separate function.

You can use AssumeFPS(framerate) at the end, or directly use AssumeFPS(23.976). Or just keep using nicefps, I suppose it doesn't make any real difference.

[memberako]

Open everything in virtualdub as a first step - it'll usually tell you the error. If you didn't load nicefps, it's probably complaining that the function doesn't exist. By integrated, I mean that all calls to assumefps, convertfps, and changefps internally integrate nicefps now, it doesn't exist as a separate function.

You can use AssumeFPS(framerate) at the end, or directly use AssumeFPS(23.976). Or just keep using nicefps, I suppose it doesn't make any real difference.
thanks for the info!

[addit]

First and foremost I'd like to thank everyone in this thread for allowing me to put x264 encodes on my ipod!

I too am suffering from the colour banding problem with any content sized above 320x240 (i.e. anything that seems to require scaling by the ipod). If it is the scaling of the ipod itself i'm perplexed as to why this isn't a more talked about problem? So if anyones been able to get around this please do tell because its DRIVING ME NUTS...

Thanks again,
Adam

[migrena]

plug ipod to your tv, there is no other way unless you can hack ipod and replace 66K-color lcd with 17M one ;)

==============================================

also i wanted to ask about this
http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=875459&postcount=6
if its true then using jack-rca cable for clips with higher resolutions is usless... but dock connector specification states that there is possibility of outputing Y and V signals from ipod, will using this give me more than 240 scanlines?

[addit]

Heres the strange thing though, the ipod can produce non-colour banded video when it has been pre-resized to 320x[whatever pixels here], so I don't think its the screen... in fact i'm almost convinced now its the method in which the ipod scale video content. Still... I wonder if high-resolution mpeg-4 content also shows banding?

Adam

[migrena]

its because ipod uses very sharp downscaler to make the high res videos look "better", but in result you might end with more visible banding
try this with animated source, you will have excellent contures but you might end with horrible colour gradients
lowering brightness might help a bit reduce this, at least it looks a bit better to my eyes

ps please note that when you are recompressing to ipod compatibile format you are increasing banding that was already present in your source

[addit]

Ok, I suppose I can live with the colour banding :rolleyes:

However I have a new problem now with longer clips such as a 40 minute TV episode. For some reason my encoded videos have the last few seconds repeated causing a progressively worse audio sync when muxed into the final .mp4.

My AVS script is:
import("source.avs")
DirectShowSource(s,audio=true)
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\mt_masktools.dll")
import("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\Deblock_QED.avs")
Deblock_QED_MT2()
BilinearResize(320,Round((Height*320)/Width))
assumefps(framerate,sync_audio=true)
And my x264 command line is:
264.exe --pass 1 --bitrate 400 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --ref 5 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip
--filter -1,-1 --no-cabac --subme 7 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4 --qpmin 16
--vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --deadzone-inter 4 --deadzone-intra 6 --threads auto --thread-input
--progress --no-dct-decimate --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "video.mp4" "filter.avs"
x264.exe -pass 2 ...
I'm using the latest version of avisynth and the source is 23.976023 fps, so I figure its something to do with the niceFPS integration. Side note, it transfers to the ipod fine :cool:

*UPDATE* I also tried using the niceFPS() plugin alone and I still get the same problem. Argh, this is really annoying me... it happens with all the longer videos I try...

Adam

[migrena]

you have a very odd way of loading source files...
maybe assumefps with sync_audio and dss as source is creating such effect, try encoding audio and video with different scripts

ps1 if you use resizing in such way you may end with height not divisible by 2

ps2 i have no idea why when i encode with 5 reference frames any ipod is not accepting those files

[addit]

After almost ripping my hair out (thank god I didn't!) I finally found a solution to my audio sync. In case anyone was wondering there seemed to be some conflict between my build of ffdshow (and indeed all of the ffdshow tryouts on sourceforge...) and avisynth. The solution, well to use a different decoder which worked a treat. No more are the last few seconds of my video repeated!

[TheOne0908]

Only recently did I begin having trouble with encoding video files for my iPod. For some reason, the files will play on i-tunes just won't transfer to the iPod. Now, I have followed the wiki-guide to get videos to run on the 5.0 updated generation of iPod. Anyone else been having trouble getting videos with 640 by 272 pixel to work on the iPod. If so what settings are you using? Thanks Again.


--pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --nf --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --merange 12 --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output ""

These are my video profile settings above.

DGDecode_mpeg2source("")
#Not doing anything because the source is progressive
crop( 0, 58, -2, -64)

LanczosResize(640,272) # Lanczos (Sharp)
#denoise

These are my avisynth settings above.

I am not sure which is causing the trouble.

[migrena]

try adding convertfps/assumefps/whatewerfps or even nicefps at the end of the script

[hiteck]

try adding convertfps/assumefps/whatewerfps or even nicefps at the end of the script

I've been having the same issue, I added AssumeFPS(), but the result is the same. Here is my avs script:

DGDecode_mpeg2source("D:\mov.d2v",info=3)
ColorMatrix(hints=true)
#deinterlace
#crop
LanczosResize(640,480) # Lanczos (Sharp)
#denoise
AssumeFPS(30000,1001)


The file will play fine in iTunes (7.1.1.5) or quicktime but it complains that the bitrate is too high and won't copy to my iPod (firmware 1.2.1)

Also in megui, if i try to config the iPod 5.5g profile i get the following:

"Sorry, the selected profile exceeds the maximum AVC level you have specified"
"Maximum bitrate is too high"

[NWDaniels91]

So MeGUI and iTunes are both reporting that your bitrate is too high. Are you absolutely sure that the bitrate setting is correct? I've never had MeGUI or iTunes report a bitrate problem with iPod encodes.

[hiteck]

So MeGUI and iTunes are both reporting that your bitrate is too high. Are you absolutely sure that the bitrate setting is correct? I've never had MeGUI or iTunes report a bitrate problem with iPod encodes.

I am using the PD-iPod 5.5G profile with megui. MeGUI only complains if I select the 5.5G profile and click config, but it encodes without any problems, iTunes only complains when I try to sync my iPod :confused:.

this is what i'm passing to x264
--pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --nf --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --merange 12 --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "" ""

[b0b0b0b]

:thanks: :thanks: :thanks:

Nic, thanks for your hacked mp4box.

[migrena]

i believe this message is megui bug (reporting this on sourceforge would be good idea), to avoid this select ipod profile in config menu, not in main window

itunes have only one message when something is wrong with encoded file - "<insert filename> was not copied to the ipod <your ipod name> because it canot be played on this ipod"
the amount of information it gives is stunning ;)

[sazoki]

i'm using megui to encode sample avi movies with 500 fr no audio dely but when i try 5000 frames it will be audio delay

my avs script looks :

DirectShowSource("G:\mov\mov.xvid-imbt.avi",fps=23.9759856527702,audio=false)
#deinterlace
#crop
BilinearResize(576,240) # Bilinear (Soft)
#denoise

and my megui profile for ipod 5 g is :

--pass 2 --bitrate 1000 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --nf --no-cabac --subme 6 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --merange 12 --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "" ""

[migrena]

why not avisource for avi?
but more importantly try using common 23.976 for fps

[sazoki]

thanks migrena for replying,but where can i get the avisource and where can i put to manage with megui
and i try another mov sample it there is no audio delay
i understand know that the problem begin from the movie i select so what do you think

[migrena]

avisource is in every avisynth build that i can think of, just try replaceing replace directshowsource with avisource
note that you wont need fps parameter then
http://avisynth.org/AviSource

[agilpwc]

I just successfully played a 688x384 resolution video on the Ipod. 704x400 didn't work.

Had to transfer it with Anapod Explorer though, Itunes wouldn't transfer it.

[buzzqw]

hi all!

i haven't a ipod so i cannot make test.. could someone test automkv with ipod profiles and tell me if is all ok ?

thanks!

BHH

[migrena]

@agilpwc good news, now if someone could just confirm that ipod can transmit such resolution with s-video output...

@buzzqw i will try, but i had some issues with number of allowed reference frames and transfering with itunes (see my previous posts) so results may not be 100% correct

[buzzqw]

thanks anyway migrena !

BHH

[migrena]

i did short test, input file - first 71s from elephants dream
win2k, athlon 2500, 512MB
input file:
Format : Matroska
File size : 29.6 MiB
PlayTime : 1mn 10s
Bit rate : 3525 Kbps

Video #0
Codec : MPEG-4 AVC
Codec/Info : MPEG4 ISO advanced profile
PlayTime : 1mn 11s
Width : 1024 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 23.394 fps

Audio #0
Codec : A_AAC
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48 KHz

output file:
File size : 20.4 MiB
PlayTime : 1mn 10s
Bit rate : 2428 Kbps
StreamSize : 22.0 KiB

Video #0
Codec : H.264
PlayTime : 1mn 10s
Bit rate : 2337 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 368 pixels
Aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 23.394 fps
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.415
StreamSize : 19.6 MiB

Audio #0
Codec : AAC LC
Codec/Info : AAC Low Complexity
PlayTime : 1mn 10s
Bit rate : 90 Kbps
Bit rate mode : VBR
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
StreamSize : 779 KiB

and the log from automkv:
14:51:32 0.81 - - - - - - - - - - - - - START JOBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
14:51:32 Selected Input file: ElephantsDream.mkv
14:51:32 Selected Output dir: temp\
14:51:32 Selected Final Name: ElephantsDream
14:51:32 Selected Container type: MP4
14:51:32 Selected Encoder: X264
14:51:32 Selected Size: 1 CD
14:51:32 Selected Slice: 1
14:51:32 Selected Profile: iPod 5.5G.xml
14:51:32 Selected Width: 640
14:51:32 Selected Resizer: SimpleResize (neutral soft)
14:51:32 Selected Filters: RemoveGrain(mode=2)
14:51:32 Selected Deinterlacer: AUTO
14:51:32 Selected Field Order: AUTO
14:51:32 Enabled CRF/CQ AutoRes at 18 value
14:51:32 Track Language 1: ElephantsDream.mkv
14:51:32 Audio Codec 1: Nero AAC
14:51:32 Audio Quality 1: 0.35
14:51:32 Audio Channel 1: Stereo
14:51:32 Advanced Audio Settings DUMP Track 1
14:51:32 Nero Option Profiles: AUTO --- Encoding Mode: Quality
14:51:32 CCT Option Profiles: AUTO --- Channel Options: AUTO
14:51:32 Lame Settings: ABR
14:51:32 Audio Normalization: 1
14:51:32 Frequency: AUTO --- Tempo : NONE
14:51:32 Pitch: NONE --- Other Add :
14:51:32 Advanced Audio Settings DUMP Track 2
14:51:32 Nero Option Profiles: AUTO --- Encoding Mode: Quality
14:51:32 CCT Option Profiles: AUTO --- Channel Options: AUTO
14:51:32 Lame Settings: ABR
14:51:32 Audio Normalization: 1
14:51:32 Frequency: AUTO --- Tempo : NONE
14:51:32 Pitch: NONE --- Other Add :
14:51:32
14:51:35 Avi engage mode not corrected, switched to DirectShowSource
14:51:47 Number of Frames: 1649
14:51:47 Framerate: 23.394276
14:51:47 Movie length in Seconds: 71
14:51:47 Movie Width/Height: 1024/576
14:51:47 Number of Frames: 1649
14:51:47 Framerate: 23.394276
14:51:47 Movie length in Seconds: 71
14:51:47 Movie Width/Height: 1024/576
14:52:47 Processing completed. Type is determined to be progressive.
14:52:47 Order: unk
14:52:47 Encoding temp\ to NeroAAC with 0.35 quality
14:53:05 Encoded 1' Audio Track: 816275 bytes
14:53:05 Starting X264
14:53:06 Command Line 1' Pass X264: AutoMKV081\exe\encoder\x264.exe --pass 1 --bitrate 82621 --stats "temp\.stats" --ref 0 --no-b-adapt --progress --keyint 250 --bframes 0 --qpmin 16 --qpmax 51 --no-psnr --filter 0,0 --direct none --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --no-ssim --level 30 --merange 12 --nf --no-cabac --no-b-adapt --threads 2 --sar 1:1 --output NUL "temp\movie.avs"
14:53:06 Command Line 2' Pass X264: AutoMKV081\exe\encoder\x264.exe --pass 2 --bitrate 82621 --stats "temp\.stats" --progress --keyint 250 --bframes 0 --qpmin 16 --qpmax 51 --no-psnr --ref 1 --filter 0,0 --direct none --vbv-maxrate 1500 --me umh --no-ssim --level 30 --merange 12 --nf --no-cabac --no-b-adapt --threads 2 --sar 1:1 --output "temp\movie.mp4" "temp\movie.avs"
14:57:45 Only Movie Size: 20602995 bytes
14:57:45 "AutoMKV081\exe\matroska\NicMP4Box.exe" -normal-mode -add "temp\movie.mp4":par=1.000000 -add "temp\audio.mp4:lang=und" -fps 23.394276 "temp\ElephantsDream_full.mp4"
14:57:47 Final Muxed size: 21415207 bytes
14:57:47 Encoding finished: 00:06:15 elapsed time
14:57:47 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
14:57:47 Script AutoCrop.log
14:57:47
14:57:47 Crop(14,0,996,576)
14:57:47 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
14:57:47 Script Resmovie.avs
14:57:47 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
14:57:47 Script movie.avs
14:57:47
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\AddGrain.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\autocrop.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\BicublinResize.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\blockbuster.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\cnr2.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\ColorMatrix.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\Convolution3D.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\corrector.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\DctFilter.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\Decomb.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\Deen.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\degrainmedian.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\DGDecode.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\EEDI2.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\fft3dfilter.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\FluxSmooth.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\frfun7.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\hqdn3d.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\LeakKernelDeint.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\MaskTools.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\medianblur.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\MipSmooth.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\MSharpen.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\mt_masktools.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\mvtools.dll")
14:57:47 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\NicAudio.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\RemoveGrainS.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\RepairS.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\SangNom.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\SimpleResize.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\SoundOut.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\TBilateral.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\TDeint.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\TIVTC.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\TomsMoComp.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\TTempSmooth.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\UnDot.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\UnFilter.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\VSFilter.dll")
14:57:48 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\warpsharp.dll")
14:57:48 #loadpluginstart
14:57:48
14:57:48 #test1
14:57:48
14:57:48 Import("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\HybridFuPP.avsi")
14:57:48 Import("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\LimitedSharpenFaster.avsi")
14:57:48 Import("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\MCBob_v03c.avsi")
14:57:48 Import("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\mvbob.avsi")
14:57:48 Import("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\seesaw.avsi")
14:57:48 Import("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\spresso.avsi")
14:57:48 #importstart
14:57:48
14:57:48 #test2
14:57:48
14:57:48 movie = directshowsource("ElephantsDream.mkv",audio=false)
14:57:48 movie = isRGB(movie) ? ConvertToYV12(movie,interlaced=true) : movie
14:57:48 movie = isYUY2(movie) ? ConvertToYV12(movie,interlaced=true) : movie
14:57:48 function getOrder(clip c) {
14:57:48 order = GetParity(c) ? 1 : 0
14:57:48 Return order }
14:57:48 #filter1start
14:57:48
14:57:48 #test3
14:57:48
14:57:48 last = movie
14:57:48 movie = last
14:57:48 #cropstart
14:57:48
14:57:48 cropclip = autocrop(movie,mode=0,wmultof=4,hmultof=4,samples=40,aspect=0,threshold=34,samplestartframe=0)
14:57:48 fixed_aspect = 1
14:57:48 c_width = width(cropclip)
14:57:48 c_height = Round(height(cropclip) / fixed_aspect)
14:57:48 input_par = float(float(c_width)/float(c_height))
14:57:48 input_par = input_par > 1.4 ? input_par : (4.0/3.0)
14:57:48 out_width = 640
14:57:48 out_height = Round(float(out_width) / input_par)
14:57:48 hmod = out_height - (floor(out_height / 16 ) * 16)
14:57:48 out_height = (hmod > 4) ? (out_height + (16 - hmod)) : (out_height - hmod)
14:57:48 new_aspect = (float(out_width) / float(out_height)) / fixed_aspect
14:57:48 autocrop(movie,mode=0,wmultof=4,hmultof=4,samples=40,aspect=new_aspect,threshold=34,samplestartframe=0)
14:57:48
14:57:48 #resizestart
14:57:48
14:57:48 #test4
14:57:48
14:57:48 SimpleResize(out_width,out_height)
14:57:48 #filter2start
14:57:48
14:57:48 #test5
14:57:48
14:57:48 RemoveGrain(mode=2)
14:57:48 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
14:57:48 Script mkvmaudio.avs
14:57:49
14:57:49 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\NicAudio.dll")
14:57:49 LoadPlugin("AutoMKV081\exe\filter\SoundOut.dll")
14:57:49 DirectShowSource("ElephantsDream.mkv",video=false)
14:57:49 #Applying STEREO downmixing routines
14:57:49 function stereo(clip a)
14:57:49 {
14:57:49 flr = GetChannel(a, 1, 2)
14:57:49 fcc = GetChannel(a, 3)
14:57:49 lfe = GetChannel(a, 4)
14:57:49 lfc = MixAudio(fcc, lfe, 0.2071, 0.2071)
14:57:49 mix = MergeChannels(lfc, lfc)
14:57:49 lrc = MixAudio(flr, mix, 0.2929, 1.0)
14:57:49 blr = GetChannel(a, 5, 6)
14:57:49 Return MixAudio(lrc, blr, 1.0, 0.2929)
14:57:49 }
14:57:49 #
14:57:49 6==Audiochannels() ? stereo() : last
14:57:49 Normalize()
14:57:49 Soundout(output="cmd",type=1,format=3,autoclose=true,executable="AutoMKV081\exe\besweet\neroaacenc.exe",prefilename=" -ignorelength -q 0.35 -if - -of audio.mp4",postfilename="",nofilename=true,showoutput=false)
14:57:49 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
14:57:49 Script mkvmaudio.bat
14:57:49
14:57:49 "AutoMKV081\exe\BeSweet\vdub.exe" /x "temp\mkvmaudio.avs"
14:57:49 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
14:57:49 Script mkvmaudio2.avs
14:57:49 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
14:57:49 Script mkvmaudio2.bat
14:57:49
14:57:49 - - - - - - - - - - - - FINISHED JOBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

warnings from x264 commandline:
x264 [warning]: frame MB size (63x36) > level limit (1620)
x264 [warning]: MB rate (53058) > level limit (40500)
x264 [warning]: max bitrate less than average bitrate, ignored.

why it assumed so high bitrate, is it because "disc settings" was set to "1cd"? it would be very inconvenient to calculate filesize manually

ps if i did sth wrong in automkv please correct me as it was the first time i was using it

[buzzqw]

thanks migrena!

first of all try updating to this build (just download this exe and use it...) http://www.64k.it/andres/data/a/AutoMKV081b-ipod.exe

and yes the bitrate issue was caused because you haven't set the final wanted size, and as default goes for 1 CD

would be very inconvenient to calculate filesize manually
why ? you have a source file (dvd) want a 1cd rip ? select 1cd
have a small trailer (80mb) ? and want reducing ? ok, write 40mb...

this behavior isn't changeable... you must select the final size, 10 mb, 40, mb or what ever :)


thanks again and report any problem!

BHH

[migrena]

and yes the bitrate issue was caused because you haven't set the final wanted size, and as default goes for 1 CD
i assumed that profiles are like those in megui - bitrate based, for portables with limited bitrate this way is just more convinient, and alculating target size is a bit tricky if you do not know target height and when you want to keep bit/px*frame ratio optimal (but i'm probably the only preson with ipod who is pays attention to this value :))

also if i understand how taret height is calculated you limited it by fixing aspect ratio to 4/3 when its smaller, wouldnt it be better to do sth like adding horizontal borders to source before whole calculations that it will result in 4/3 aspect ratio? you wouldnt mess proportions this way

[buzzqw]

not like megui... in automkv the profile are for settings codec options... not for bitrate...

if you want specific bitrate encoding, not aiming to fixed final size, you can check in advanced settings the "specify bitrate" option

about resize and aspect ratio: automkv will not enfoce any AR, it will encode and mux with AR of movie file

you can specify the muxing AR (not encoding) in advanced settings

thanks and report if playing :)

BHH

[migrena]

ok now that i set properly target size everything seems fine, it transfers to ipod in itunes and plays correctly :)

about aspect ratio - clips with ar <4/3 will be cropped, but its very marginal situation and i can use manual croping/resizing

[edit] i forgot to ask - why only one reference frame?

[buzzqw]

ok now that i set properly target size everything seems fine, it transfers to ipod in itunes and plays correctly

:thanks:

but its very marginal situation and i can use manual croping/resizing
automkv woul be used for full film copy... so with "peculiar source" or already encoded file (mkv/avi/mp4...) the ar is "near" always wrong
Using the manual crop/resize is the good way!

[edit] i forgot to ask - why only one reference frame?

:o ... i was told that max 1 ref is usable... how many ref frames i can use ?

thanks again!

BHH

[migrena]

Theliel reported that even 5 shuld work, Nic reported 3 but i couldnt get more than 2, and mixed-refs also works

i think it has to do sth with the way i was encoding (batch scripts with avisynth scripts as source) because other couldnt play files with ref>2 that i encoded, a larger group of testers to verify this would be nice

i have some free time so i will test this a bit, maybe people from apple forum will do the testing form me...

[memberako]

guys, i need your help... it says "error" when i try to mux mp4 videos using megui... but when i use yamb, it works... i don't know what's wrong... i even tried installing it again but it didn't work...

Looking for job processor for job...
Processor found!


------------------------------------------------------

Starting job job1 at 6:59:27 PM
Starting preprocessing of job...
Preprocessing finished!
encoder commandline:
-add "Z:\movie video.mp4" -add "Z:\movie audio.mp4":lang=eng -new "Z:\movie.mp4" -tmp "Z:\"
Job not started. Reason: starting encoder failed with error 'Process has exited'
Processing ended at 6:59:28 PM
----------------------

Log for job job1

Cannot open destination file Z:\movie.mp4: I/O Error

----------------------
End of log for job1
-------------------------------------------------------

thanks.

[drunken_clam]

Hi first of all thanks Nic for your work on MP4Box. Is there now an option in the original MP4Box to set the UUID successfully?

What tools are also in use? Heard about Atomic Parsley and a patched ffmpeg version. Can somebody say which tool is most stable???

I need a tool for a batch process, so it must be very stable:-)

thanks

[Schrade]

I have a question about resolutions for the iPod 5.5G. Let's say you do the 640x480 @ 30FPS one... can the iPod 5.5G play a movie at 640x352 that's 16:9? What about varying resolutions below that? 480x272, etc..?

I don't own an iPod 5.5G so I can't do the tests myself.

[PlazzTT]

Just tried a video on my iPod Classic (think these are being called 6th gen?)

I used the PD-iPod 5.5G profile. It imported ok with iTunes, and the iPod shows a little screenshot of it, but it just goes back to the playlist when I try to play it.

I'll keep playing around with it, see if I can get something to play on it.

I think the 6G video capabilities are the same as the 5.5G

[drunken_clam]

hi,

i found out today that with iTunes 7.4.2 the uuid for h264 640x480 level 3 files isn't needed anymore. Can anybody else confirm this?

[Theliel]

you are right. I trying new ipod touch and no more uuid needed with latest itunes.

[sazoki]

so,
what suppose the best IPOD Profile shall to be
after the new Itunes update

[h264visa]

Does anybody have such a stream? mp4 file is okey, I can verify the profile and level using my H264Visa tool.

Or you guys can download this H264Visa.zip (http://h264visa.daydayup.info/downloads/H264Visa.zip).

[Theliel]

sazoki:

Depend your ipod:

For 5.5G -> ipod 5.5g profile work perfectly. IMHO you can tweak some others parameters, like deblocking, analyses... or change framerate up to 1.5MB

For newer ipod touch or maybe ipod classic -> 5.5 profile but framerate up to 10Mb/s and up to 6 reference frames. Of course, analyses and deblocking are supported.

[sazoki]

my ipod 5.5g
and i try the ipod 5.5g profile with u're sugesstion to change framerate and
the itunes refused it.

[Theliel]

ops. dont framerate, bitrate :P

[migrena]

@Theliel
10Mbps while apple specs states "H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps"?

[Theliel]

yes :) and 720*576 when apple said 640*480 :P

I'd test videos up to 8Mb in PAL and work perfectly. in really, I never have try any video up to 10Mbs, because megui always show me that with 8MB its sufficient for perfect conversion and truncate my numbers. :P

So I suppose that support all 3.0 level, that its 10Mbs

[migrena]

looks like apple devs forgot to add bitrate check to itunes. to bad they remembered about profile check :).

[Theliel]

well, i think that apple dont have any reason for cap videos. If touch support... itunes only detect and reject a higher profile and levels and cabac flags:

level_idc higher than 30
constraints_sets flags for profiles
entropy_coding_mode_flags for CABAC or CAVLC (reject CABAC)

but i dont know because apple dont said that touch support better video decoding.

[migrena]

they capped decoding capabilities in 5.xG, they added that stupid uuid restriction, so why not do something stupid again? and why official specs are not precise about video support?

about the resolution - there is pixelcount limit or limit to no more than 720x576?

ps this may be a bit off topic but is there any info about that subtitle support in new ipods?

[Ranguvar]

Just popping in, you can bypass iTunes quite easily.

1. Create a very small compatible MP4.
2. Sync with iTunes.
3. Open iPod drive in Explorer, look for the very small MP4.
4. Replace it with your own MP4. Make sure the name matches.

Make sure iTunes doesn't try to re-sync!

[Theliel]

I Belive remember that the max resolution for level 3.0 are pal aprox. Anyway, more res are refuse by iTunes.

Uuid restriction its no more present in the latest iTunes for all ipod models :)

And yes, at least touch support subtitle

[NorthPole]

@Theliel

If I understand you correctly, the Uuid restriction in the mp4 container is not needed or check by itunes/ipod.

Also, width resolution is no longer limited to 640.

So if I had a 720 x 360 - 16:9 aspect ratio, what should I resize to so that it works? Or do I even need to resize?

[Theliel]

right, sorry, its my poor English.

With the latest itunes you dont need more uuid changes. But I dont know the reason, sometimes i need (with megui) demux and remux again my mp4 for no itunes rejection.

720*360 work fine. you dont need resize nothing.

[migrena]

@Ranguvar this will work but you wont be able to ff/rev necause ipods database still uses that "small clip" running time.

i think im stuck wit the -ipod switch because im working on win2k and i have no desire to buy new pc (for vista) or dying os (xp). not much of a inconvinience but still - nice move, apple. :/

that "closed captionis" option is in nano3g, classic6g and iphone too. but i havent seen a file that is making any use of this. im not buying movies from itms so maybe thats the reason. is there any sample with subtitles avilable anywhere?

[NorthPole]

yes :) and 720*576 when apple said 640*480 :P

I'd test videos up to 8Mb in PAL and work perfectly. in really, I never have try any video up to 10Mbs, because megui always show me that with 8MB its sufficient for perfect conversion and truncate my numbers. :P

So I suppose that support all 3.0 level, that its 10Mbs

Per your success with the above video resolution with itunes/ipod and the chart that is reference in this thread:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=678891#post678891

I'm wondering if you can go to a resolution of 864 x 480 with baseline@3.0 and still have it work with a 5.5+ gen iPod?

PAL
720 * 576 = 414720 samples (or pixels)

with a framerate of 25fps total would give a total of 10 338 000 max samples per sec

NTSC
864 * 480 = 414720 samples (or pixels)

with a framerate of 23.976fps would give a total of 9 943 337 max samples per sec